A few more alleged details on Apple's forthcoming revamp of the MacBook Air line continue to trickle in, with one data point likely providing an explanation for the photo of a unreleased 13.3-inch MacBook Air design that surfaced overnight.

One of the people who helped flesh out some of the specifics in AppleInsider's report friday on the 11.6-inch MacBook Air has added a bit more color to story. According to this person:
The 11.6-inch MacBook Air won't replace the 13.3-inch model, but will instead complement it as a more aggressively-priced option.
Both the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch models sport matching outfits in the form of new, all-unibody designs and single button trackpads.
The port door found on the existing MacBook Air is gone from the new designs, which feature a port layout similar to the existing MacBook Pros.
The new "SSD card" storage is based off an SATA connection.
The base component of both models is just slightly thicker than a standard USB port at its thickest point.
As such, AppleInsider believes the photo of the mysterious 13.3-inch MacBook Air that appeared on Engadget last night is indeed a prototype (from back in April) of the new 13.3-inch MacBook Air and is architecturally very close to what Apple plans to release next week alongside the new 11.6-inch model.

From that image, along with one also published of the machine's system profile, it appears that:
The new SSD card-based storage sits above and to the left of the new battery chamber, which appears to include 4 separate battery components.
The unit has dual USB ports, one on each side
Other I/O include a MagSafe power adapter, mini DisplayPort, and SD card reader
The prototype from April is running the same 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo SL9400 processor found in the current generation MacBook Air
It also has 2GB of memory as standard
Bus speed clocks in at 1.07GHz
The unit identifies itself as MacBook Air 3,1
For additional details on the new MacBook Air's, please see AppleInsider's earlier report.

I currently use a macbook pro as a headless mac. Both at work and home I have monitor, screen and keyboard. I run the computer with the lid closed, and carry the computer where I go.

I also use the computer with lid open, for presentations and when I travel.

The biggest downside to this method is the size and weight of the macbook pro. Although I'm not going to buy an air, when purchasing time comes up I would be tempted if the disk size and processor speed measure up.

I'll be interested in whether the air will make a good headless mac and whether apple will push that configuration.

No firewire though, so no final cut pro work on the road. Just like the current MBA unfortunately. Obviously major editors don't care, but for someone like me who is a student taking a course, it would have been handy. I suppose I can still edit once I put clips onto a USB thumb drive.

If the pricing is right the odd one out will now be the white MacBook. Is it's days numbered?

As white plastic? Maybe. Otherwise, I'd doubt it. Jobs has always liked offering contrasting basic and pro pairs in the product line, and, so far as I know, the basic MacBook is still selling quite well. Even if another iPod mini assassination were in store, the Air is not a suitable replacement as Apple's low-end laptop.

The separate battery compartments seems contrary to Apple's unremovable, huge battery philosophy. I mean, they have videos on their website explaining why it's better to have one enormous battery rather than separate ones with their accompanying support structures.

The other design changes seem welcome though. Personally, I'm much more excited about Lion than I am about a new MacBook Air...

No firewire though, so no final cut pro work on the road. Just like the current MBA unfortunately. Obviously major editors don't care, but for someone like me who is a student taking a course, it would have been handy. I suppose I can still edit once I put clips onto a USB thumb drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The base component of both models is just slightly thicker than a standard USB port at its thickest point.

The base component of the MacBook Pros is just slightly thicker than an ethernet port, but the bottom panel curves out and adds extra thickness.

Hopefully the base panel on the air is flat and not curved. It would be a shame if it became quite a bit thicker. I also think it may loose some of the character of the original Airs design. The drop down ports drawer and the tappering made it really quite special to look at.

What might the component just above the alleged SSD card be that is connected via the same sort of connector (mini PCIe?)? Could it be an optional WWAN (3G, LTE) module?

Good eye! I didn't look that closely (viewing on iPad).

From the looks of it, the new SSD appears to be plugged into a PCI slot as well. That would allow it to be blistering FAST. Also, I'm sure some SSD distros would figure out some aftermarket offerings to increase the capacity.

Apple really needs a sub-13" portable. I have colleagues that still use their 12" PowerBooks, I've even considered snagging one myself.

Also, limiting the new MBA to 2GB would catastrophic IMHO. With so many folks virtualizing Windows these days (because CRM systems STILL don't support Mac), having at least 4GB is mandatory.

I've been anticipating the release of a ~12" MacBook for years. I hope Apple gets it right. They've pulling some confusing moves with the Mac lineup, despite such simple requirements for their portables.

No firewire though, so no final cut pro work on the road. Just like the current MBA unfortunately. Obviously major editors don't care, but for someone like me who is a student taking a course, it would have been handy. I suppose I can still edit once I put clips onto a USB thumb drive.

This is just the most ridiculous "dig" at the Air I've ever heard.

The Air struggles to display video even in a tiny window on a web page, even HTML streaming video. The whole idea of using a MacBook Air as a road machine to edit video is just so absolutely freaking ridiculous it isn't worth talking about.

...on my part, but it seems as if we are looking from the top of the notebook, not the bottom, as it would be on an unibody desing... See the recess space to place your thumb and open the screen? Shouldn't be visible from bottom

Update: Oh, wait, I realize now, that's also the thinnest part of the notebook. The recess would be visible from bottom

From the looks of it, the new SSD appears to be plugged into a PCI slot as well. That would allow it to be blistering FAST. Also, I'm sure some SSD distros would figure out some aftermarket offerings to increase the capacity.

Apple really needs a sub-13" portable. I have colleagues that still use their 12" PowerBooks, I've even considered snagging one myself.

Also, limiting the new MBA to 2GB would catastrophic IMHO. With so many folks virtualizing Windows these days (because CRM systems STILL don't support Mac), having at least 4GB is mandatory.

I've been anticipating the release of a ~12" MacBook for years. I hope Apple gets it right. They've pulling some confusing moves with the Mac lineup, despite such simple requirements for their portables.

Who is Apple pitching this product towards? It's underpowered, short on space and input devices. It's not for me. I like to crunch video, and audio with my computer. That's never going to happen with an underpowered thing like the Air. I have too many things that I want to connect to my computer, the Air loses again here. I'm usually doing several things at once. I'm still amazed that I don't have to use multifinder... I would never want to go back to a computer that needs to use multifinder.

Despite what Engadget suggests, I'm not convinced this is a 13" unit (or alternately, if it is 13", they've finally managed to do something about that screen bezel). Using the perspective correction and measurement tools in Photoshop, and extrapolating based on the known size of the SD card slot, suggests this is roughly about 1/2" shallower and 3/4" narrower than a current MacBook Air, which would be consistent with an 11.6" screen and typical bezel size. Reinforcing this idea, overlaying the image on a photo of a current-generation Air, if scaled in such a manner to keep the corner radius and corner screw placement consistent between the two, again suggests a slightly reduced size. The Air is a niche item as it is, doesn't seem likely they would extend the line much, so my hunch is that we'll see a single form factor using an 11.6" screen as has been reported.

Honestly if you are going to all the trouble to use a new card format, hopefully setting standards for the future, SATA is a mistake. A big mistake as even modest flash systems can outstrip it speed wise. So I'm hoping this report is a mistake!

As to the Core2 if it is indeed used it will likely be because Apple didn't have much of a choice. The only thing new on the market that is suitable for such a small machine is AMD's Bobcat based Fusion chips. Even then there is a question of performance that can be had from Fusion. Core 2 may have been the best compromise at the time that the prototype was built. Even now Intel offers little in the way of better chips. I could see an AMD design win if they can get Zacate to run at 2.2GHZ with reasonable power levels in the thirteen inch model and 1.6 GHz in the 11" model. I know it is a stretch but I'm hoping the long delay with respect to an AIR update is due to a midcourse change to Bobcat based Fusion chips.

After having my iPad for just over a month I can safely say I prefer that to a notebook no matter how thin. Of course my needs aren't the same as other people's needs so I'm not going to say the MBA makes no sense.

There's only one thing I can see the MBA being better used for in my job and that's configuring switches via a console cable as currently there is no supported way of doing that on an iPad. If there was there would be absolutely no reason for a laptop for me now that Parallels has that ability to be remotely used from an iPad... well once I reconfigure my modem which seems to be blocking the ports I need to get it and Back To My Mac running.

Who is Apple pitching this product towards? It's underpowered, short on space and input devices. It's not for me. I like to crunch video, and audio with my computer. That's never going to happen with an underpowered thing like the Air. I have too many things that I want to connect to my computer, the Air loses again here. I'm usually doing several things at once. I'm still amazed that I don't have to use multifinder... I would never want to go back to a computer that needs to use multifinder.

After having my iPad for just over a month I can safely say I prefer that to a notebook no matter how thin. Of course my needs aren't the same as other people's needs so I'm not going to say the MBA makes no sense.

There's only one thing I can see the MBA being better used for in my job and that's configuring switches via a console cable as currently there is no supported way of doing that on an iPad. If there was there would be absolutely no reason for a laptop for me now that Parallels has that ability to be remotely used from an iPad... well once I reconfigure my modem which seems to be blocking the ports I need to get it and Back To My Mac running.

And after having my iPad for 6 months now I no longer accept it's limitations when traveling. I want something small and light. But I also need something that has more functionality than the iPad delivers. For the couch, the iPad is great and serves my purpose 80% of the time. But when I'm on the road, that missing 20% becomes a real problem.

Who is Apple pitching this product towards? It's underpowered, short on space and input devices. It's not for me. I like to crunch video, and audio with my computer. That's never going to happen with an underpowered thing like the Air. I have too many things that I want to connect to my computer, the Air loses again here. I'm usually doing several things at once. I'm still amazed that I don't have to use multifinder... I would never want to go back to a computer that needs to use multifinder.

I'm sure it's the wave of the future.

Apple isn't pitching anything, this is a rumor.
Maybe you can hold off your whines and complaints, because you never know what Apple might release. I hear they are interested in cracking into the infant & whiny brat demographic. They might even offer a model with a milk bottle, a fresh diaper and a big huge STFU port for you.

The MBA is in the so-called "ultra-portable" laptop market. Intel Core class CPUs (as opposed to Atom) with 12+ inch screens at 1280x800 sized resolution. Ie, for people who are on the go a lot and would pay a premium for a super light weight machine that's less than 3 lb, but still has a modicum of power, screen size and full keyboard. Going from a 3 lb to a 4.5+ lb laptop is significant.

Obviously, this market is a niche, but it has some high profit margins. It's not that different from gaming laptops or workstation laptops in terms of niche-ness.

Now, if Apple decides to slot this into their laptop lineup instead of overlapping the MBP, it'll get interesting. Say, MBP is >$1499, MB is $999, and this thing is at $1299, it could get interesting. I'm doubting it though. It'll just stay as a nice niche product for them.

Me, I wouldn't need it and a MBP is up my alley at work. At home, iMac + iOS device would satisfy me. But there are those who would need it: on-the-go bloggers, on-the-go business people, on-the-go managers.

If so, it'll have about 50 Watt-hour batteries making it a bit bigger than the current 40 Watt-hour. So, it could be a 10+ hour machine for light websurfing and H.264 video after so good fine-tuning with a newer rev of Mac OS X. Also, makes it cheaper.

Who is Apple pitching this product towards? It's underpowered, short on space and input devices. It's not for me. I like to crunch video, and audio with my computer. That's never going to happen with an underpowered thing like the Air.

Correct. The Air is not designed to crunch video. Then again, video crunchers are in the minority of laptop users.

Quote:

I have too many things that I want to connect to my computer, the Air loses again here.

Where by "loses" you mean "the wrong tool for the job I had in mind." But again, most people looking for a highly portable laptop probably aren't overly concerned with plugging in "many things." So I guess the answer to who Apple is pitching this to is "people who don't intend to crunch video and don't need to plug in many things, i.e. "most laptop users."

Quote:

I'm usually doing several things at once. I'm still amazed that I don't have to use multifinder... I would never want to go back to a computer that needs to use multifinder.

I wouldn't be surprised if the mixed messages (11.6" vs. 13.3", compact SSD-like mass storage, etc.) indicate multiple models. Not just different-sized MacBook Airs, but a MacBook Air and a new unibody aluminum basic MacBook.

The new basic MacBook could get the 11.6" screen and start at $799. The new MacBook Air will presumably be thinner and lighter than the current one, thanks in part to the ultra-compact solid state mass storage. And it would stay at 13.3". Just a thought.

There already is an adaptor for Ethernet (plugging into the single USB port). And none of the FW advantages (speed, FW-target mode, peer-to-peer) would work if channeled through a USB port. They naturally could invent a mini-FW or mini-Ethernet port, akin to the mini-DP port.